Fire shutter



Egg.. 15H92?. Y 1,617,439*y w. e. DuNcANsoN FIRE SHUTTER .Filed on. 24 1925 4 sheets-sneek 2 ATT NEYS Patented Feb. 15, 1927.

XVALTER E. DUNCANSON, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSGTQB T0 THE Tf G. WILSN COR-- PORATION, 0F .NEVT YORK, DL'Y., A COBPOt-ATGT. OF VIRGINlA.

Finn snn'rrnn.

Application filed October 24, 1925. Serial No. 64,539.

This invention relates to automatic fire` ters should be arranged yso that they may be lowered manually to closed positions without disturbing the devices for holding the same normally in open positions. Such 'shutters` are often closed at night and locked so as to prevent the entrance of thieves or other unauthorized persons into .the building and also to prevent or retard the passage of fire through the wall opening. The devices for holding the shutter normally in open position are constructed and arranged to be operated automatically to release the shutter and cause the same to close upon the occurrence of a dangerous rise in temperature and these devices should not be interfered with or disturbed under any circumstances except in testing the automatic operation.

One object of the present invention is to improve the construction and modeof operation of automatic fire shutters and to provide vshutters of this type which may be readily opened or closed while the emergency devices for holding the same in open position remain in undisturbed operative condition'.

Another object of the invention is to improve and simplify the construction and mode of operation of the devices for holding automatic fire'shutters in open position.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an automatic fire shutter which combines the more important features of the underbalanced type of fire shutter constructions and the type in which the shutter is held in open position by means of a counterbalancing spring.

iVith these and other objects in view, one feature of the present invention consists in the provision of a mechanism for holding an automatic fire shutter in open position arranged to be automatically actuated to cause the closing of the shutter upon the occurrence of a dangerous rise in temperature which will enable the shutter to be readily moved from' open to closed position or from closed to open position, while said devices continue in undisturbed operative condition. These devices are preferably ar- Y ranged to act frictionally on the shutter in holding the same in open position and in closingfthe shutter it is only necessary to overcome the friction exerted by these devices. The shutter is preferably partially counterbalanced so that a comparatively light frictional force is required to holdthe shutter in open position. Thus, in lowering the shutter it is only necessary to overcome this relatively light force.

The invention also comprises other novelr and improved features, constructions `and combination of parts hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the'claims,

the advantages Vof which will be lreadily f understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art. V

The invention will be clearly understood l from the accompanying drawings 'illustrat- Ving the invention in its preferred form and the following detailed description of the constructions therein shown. v

ln the drawings- Fig. l isa view in front elevation of anV automatic fire shutter embodying the invention in its preferred form;

Fig. 2 is a detail view in front elevation illustrating certain parts of the-'devices for holding the shutter in open position; l

Fig. 3 isV a Vdetaillsectional view 'taken substantially on the line 3 3 of Fig. l; K

Fig. i is a sectional view taken substantially on the line' 4-4 of Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is a view in vertical section taken.

through the left-hand end of the shutter in.

Va plane containing the axis thereof;

Fig. 6 is a view in vertical section illustrating particularly thief mechanismk for counterbalancing the shutter;

Fig. 7 is a detail view takenV substantially on the line 7--7 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a detail view partly in section illustrating certain parts of the mechanism for holding the shutter in raised position;

Fig. A9 is a view similar to Fig. 7 illustrating a modified construction;

Fig. l0 is a view in frontelevation illustrating a shutter of the form shown in Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a detail view in side elevation illustrating the'mechanism for retarding the downward movement of the shutter;` and kFig.' l2 isa detailV view in side elevation illustrating certain parts of the mechanism shown in Fig. 11.

Y The coiling shutter embodied in the present construction may be of any suitable type such asthat made up *of jointed metallic slats and is indicated at 2 in the drawings.

Theshutter is mounted or installed adjacent an opening 4 in the wall 6 of a building; to close this opening in the event of fire. 1 The lateral margins of the shutter engage in Iguides 7 located at each side of the opening` 4 and an angle bar 9 is secured to the outer or lower margin of the shutter. The shutter is attached 'at one end'to a rotary barrel or i roller-8 Va-nd'is arranged to be coiled up on 12 secured in one end ofthe roller;

' 14 secured within the end ofthe roller and having a reduced portion engaging' in a bearing" in the shutter frame (seellfig. 6).

The Vshutter is preferably partially counterbalanced so that a relatively light force is required to hold the same in open positiony or to close the same against the action of the counterbalancingj mechanism. The

mechanism for partially counterbalancing the shutter comprises a' coiled spring 16, one end of which is attached to the barrel 8 and the other end of which is attached to the shaft 10. The shaft 10` is rotatablein its bearingr in the frame and is adjustably held from turning movementA by means of a disk 18 secured to the end ofthe .shaft and a pin 20 engaging in' an'opening` in a bracket secured toV the frame andarranged also to engage in any one of a series of openings in the disk 18. `By al suitablek rotary Vadjustment of the disl 18, the rotary tension lof lthe spring lrmay be readily adjusted for any weight or size of shutter. The spring 16 is preferably formed with its coils out of contact and is attached at its respective ends to the roller 8 and the shaft l() so that when in an unwound` condition, the spring is free from longitudinal tension.

' Thus there is no friotional contact between thecoils of the spring' during the rot-ation of theV roller 8 and there is no end thrust produced upon the Vroller t0 cause the roller or the parts connected thereto to bind frictionally'against the adjacent portions of the shutter frame. Thus a positive and smooth closing operation ismade possible as is very desirable in fire retarding' shutters.v

`The mechanism for holding" the shutter normally in open position in the present form of the invention comprises al brake Vformed in the end of the brake band.

wheel 22 rotatably mounted upon a stud 24 secured in a suitably bent supporting Aplate 26 embracing` the brake wheel and attached to the shutter frame. llChis brake wheel is connected for rotation withY the shaft 14 during;` the uncoiling of the shutter b y means of a pawl 28 pivoted on the wheel and a toothed wheel 30` secured to the end of the shaft 14 and engaged by the pawl. The pawl is held in engagement with the toothed wheel 80 by means of a leaf spring' secured to the pawl and eiigagrinea pin 34 secured to the wheel. This connection between the shaft 14 and the brakel wheel 22 venables the shaft and roller V8 to rotate independently of the brake wheel and hold the shutter at any point in the opening during the raising' of the shutter and also causes the brake wheel. to rotate with the Yshaft and roller when the shutter is lowered. Because of the mounting of the brakev wheel 22 on a shaft entirely independent of the shaft 14, the brake mechanism exerts no pressure or strain on the shaft during` the operation of the brake and there is no` resulting friction which might interfere with the manual coilingi and uncoiling of the shutter.

The brake wheel 22 is engaged bya brake band 36 secured at one end to a brac-ketBS attached to the shutter frame and preferably passing` nearly around the brakev wheel as shown clearly in Figs. 7 and 9. The brakel band 36 is preferably constructed of spring' metal and formed so that when released it tends to spring away from the brake wheel so as to allow thebrake wheel to rotate. The brake band is held in frictional engagement with the brakewheel with the required pressure by mechanism comprising a lever 40 pivoted at 42 on the shutter frame, one

arm of `which lever engages in a slot v44 The other arm of the lever is acted upon by leverholding means preferably of a flexible character and comprising a yielding element so that said means will act yieldingly on -the lever. Referring` particularly to Fig'. 7, the latter arm on the lever 40 extends through an opening in the housing in the wall 6 to theouter side of said wall and said leverholding' means is attached to said arm of the lever outside of said wall. Said leverholding' means indicated generally at 46 eX- tends from the lever 40 downwardly about a pulley 48 and then inwardly through a passageway 50 in the wall 6 to the inner side of the wall, From said passageway V50, said lever-holding` means extends over a pulley 52 and then downwardly to a pointwhere it is attached to the wall G and where it may be conveniently reached for testing. Said lever-holding' means comprises a linl; 54, the upper end of which is engaged in one of a series of openings 56 in the outwardly extending arm of lever 40. Said holding means also comprises a series of chain sections 58 and fusible link members 60 and 62, arranged respectively upon the outside and upon the inside of the wall 6. A coiled spring 64 is interposed between two of the chain sections 58 to cause said holding means to act yieldingly on the lever 40. The lower chain section 58 is held in position by inserting the same in a vslot in a bracket 66 secured to the inner side of the wall 6. The brake mechanism is set by grasping the lower chain section 58 and pullingV the same taut, thereby placing the spring 64 under tension and then inserting said Y chain section in the notch in the bracket 66.

By the tension exerted by the spring 64, the brake band 36 will be yieldingly held in frictional engagement with the brake wheel 22 to hold the shutter in open position. Upon the occurrence of a dangerous rise in temperature, either upon the outside or upon the inside of the wall 6, one of the links -62 will be fused, thereby releasing' the lever 40 and allowing the brake `band to expand and release the brake wheel. Upon the release of the shutter in this manner the shutter` will descend to closed position. In testing the shutter, the lower chain section 58 is disengaged from the notch in the bracket 66, manually, thus releasing' the brake holding power ofthe same as though the links 60 or 62 had been fused. By engaging the different links of the lower chain section in the notch in bracket 66, the teni sion under which the vspring 64 is placed and the presssure exerted by the brake band upon the brake wheel may be adjusted as desired or required to hold the shutter in open position. The pressure of the brake band upon the brake wheel also may be adjusted by placing theupper end of the link 54 in different Vopenings 56 in the arm of the lever 40. thereby varying the leverage. By thus adjusting theV connection between the lever-holding means-and the lever 40, the action of the brake mechanism may be readily adjusted for different weights of shutters. rlhus, a very heavy shutter may vbe held in open position in a reliable manner by increasing the leverage.

llith the above construction when the brake mechanism for holding the shutter in open position is in operation the shutter may be readily moved to closed position against the action of the brake mechanism. The brake mechanism may be adjusted in the manner above described so asv to exert a pressure just sutiicient to overcome the overway the mechanism for holding the shutter Y normally in open position.

Another important advantage secured in r the present construction is that the counterfv movement, a weight bar 68 is mounted with its ends engaging in guides in channel bars 70 by the side of the guides vfor the shutter to slide .vertically in a direction parallel with the shutter, these channelA bars being located at opposite sides of the door opening. The angle bar 9 aty the lower end of the shutter projects across the path oflmovement of the weight bar 68, so that the weight bar is engaged and lifted by the shutter during its upward or opening movements. The weight bar also slides upon the guide rods 72, passing loosely through plates"4secured` within the upper ends of the channel bars 70, the downward movement of the 'guide rods being limited by stop pins 76 passing through the guide rods. The guide rods 7 2 engage in openings in the ends ofthe weight bar and the downward movement of the 1 weight bar is limited by means of nuts 78 threaded upon the lower ends of the guide rods. By a suitable adjustment of these nuts the extent of the downwardmovement of the weight bar may be readily adjusted.

The shutter also is Vpreferably provided with a mechanism for retarding the downward movement of the shutter. In the pres'- ent form of the invention, the retarding mechanism is similar to that disclosedl in applicants pending application, Serial No. 7,513, filed February 7,' 1925. i This retarding mechanism comprises a swinging arm 80'pivoted at 82 on the shutter fra-me and carrying at its lower end an adjustable weight 84 and a pair of pawls 86 and 88 secured rigidly to saidarm'and arranged to engage a toothed wheel loosely mounted upon the shaft 14. This toothed wheel is connected for rotation with 'the shaft 14 during'the downward movement of the shutter by means of a spring pressed pawl 92 pivoted upon an arm 94 secured to said shaft and arranged to engage the toothed wheel 90 (see Figs', 11 and 12). j As the shaft 14 is rotated during the nov downward movement of the shutter, the

toothed wheel 90 is rotatedl therewith thro-ugh the engagement i of the pawl 92 l is swung in opposite directions bythe action of said wheel upon the pawls 88 and 86,

" thereby retarding the downward movement of the shutter. IVhenthe shutter is raised the pawl 92 passes idly over the teeth of the toothed wheel 90 so rthat the retarding mechanism has no retarding eliect upon the movement of the shutter. Y

`In the construction shown in Figs. l, 4, 5 and 7, the roller upon which the shutter is coiled, the mechanism for support-ing the roller, the mechanism for holding the shutter in open position and the retarding mechanism forthe shutter are all installed in an opening 96 in the wall 6 and the shutter is coiledv within a casing 98. In the construction shown in Figs. 9 and l0. the

devices upon which the shutter is coiled and the retarding mechanism are mounted in a casing. 100 upon the outer' side of the wall 6. The Vdevices for tensioning the counterbalancing spring are enclosed by a cap 102 secured lto this casing and the brake mechanism for holding the shutter in open position is enclosed by a cap 104; secured to' the opposite end of said casing. The brake band 36. the lever l0 and the devices acting on the Vlever 40 to hold the brake band in braking engagement with the brake wheel in the form of the'invention shown in Fig. 9 differ somewhatin specific construction and arrangement of parts from thev correspond-r ing parts shown in Fig. 7 but have the same mode of operation.

The shutter construction above described combines the advantages of shutters of the counterbalanced or underwriters7 type in which the shutter is held in open position by a counterbalancing spring, and shutters of the underbalanced type. The shut-ter may be readily opened and closed manually without disturbing the emergency devices for holdingtheV same normally in open position. In testing the shutter, it is only necessary to release the emergency holding devices manuallyand the parts of the mechanism for holdingthe shutterin open position may be readily restored to operative condition after testing ,This is a great advantage over the counterbalanced type in which the rewinding of the counterbalancing spring andthe resetting of the parts after a testingV operation requires a great deal of labor andtime and considerable skill.

It is to be understood that the invention is notl limited to the particular construction and arrangement of parts-of the illustrated embodiment of the invention, but that the Vinvention may be embodied in other forms and closes upon the occurrence ofva 'dangerous rise in temperature, certain other features of thek invention are not limited Vto automatic tire shutters but may be embodied in fire shutters in which there is'no rmechanism provided for causing the automatic closing of the shutter. Y

Having explained the nature and object of the invention and having Vspecifically described a construction embodying the invention in its preferred form, whatis claimed is: y

l. An automatic fire shutter mechanism comprising in combination a movable shutter of underbalanced construction, arranged for movement across a wall openingan'd means comprising an element fusible upon the occurrence of a dangerous rise in temperature for holding said shutter normally in position, said kholding means'being arranged to allow the shutter to be operated manually by overcoming the action, of said holding means while said means remains in operative condition.

2. An automatic fire shutter mechanism comprising in combination a ceiling shutter constructed and arranged for movement across a wall opening, counterbala-ncing means for the shutter, and means independent of Y the counterbalancing means comprising an element fusible upon the ocp curi-ence of a dangerouskrise in temperature for holding said shutter normally in position arranged to allow whilegin operating condition the shutter to be operated manually by overcoming the action of said holding means.

In a lire shutter mechanism having a iieXible shutter and rotatable means upon which said shutter may be coiled Vsubject to the influence of a counterbalancing spring, the combination with said shutter and rotatable means of a helical counterbalancing spring formed with its coils out of Contact and having one end thereof secured to resist torsion while the other end thereof is attached to and moves with said rotatable means.

4. In a fire shutter mechanism having a flexible shutter and a roller upon which said shutter may be rolled, the combination with said shutter and roller of a coiled counterbalancing spring formed with its coils out of Contact to reduce friction, said spring having one end secured to resist torsion and its other end connected with the roller so that the rotation of the roller will rotatevone end of the spring about the axis of the spring'.

In a fire shutter mechanism having a flexible shutter .nd a roller upon which said shutter may be coiled, the combination with said shutter and roller of a counterbalancing spring formed with its coils out of contact and attached at one end to the roller and having its other end secured to resist torsion and substantially free from longi-` overcoming the action of they brake while Y the brake is in operation and means for controlling the brake'arranged to cause the release of the brake upon the occurrence of la Vdangerous rise in temperature.

k7. An automatic lire shutter mechanism comprising in ycombination a movable shutter constructed andv arranged for movement across a wallopening, a brake for holding the shutter normally in position'arranged to allow' the Ashutter, to be moved manually by overcoming the action of the brake while the brake is in operation, and means for yieldingly holding the Vbrake in operation arranged to be operated to cause the release of .the brake upon'tlie occurrence of a dangerous rise in temperature.

81. An automatic fire shutter mechanism comprising a coiling shutter constructed and arranged formovement'across a wall opening, counterbalancing means for the shutter and yieldingly acting means for holding 'the shutter normally inv position-arranged to allow the shutter to be moved manually while said means is in operation, said counterbalancing means beingoperative when the Ycurtain'is,released by said holding means.

9.1 An automaticl fire shutter vmechanism comprising in combination a coiliiig shutter constructed and larranged for movement across a wall opening, means for partially Y "counterbalancing' the shutter, and yieldingly acting means for holding the shutter noi'- mally in position arranged to allow the shutter-to be moved manually and comprising an element fusible upon lthe occurrence of a dangerous rise in temperature to release the shutter, said couiiterbalancing means being operative when the curtain is released by said holdingmeans.

10. An automatic fire shutter mechanism comprisingin combination a movable shutter constructed and arranged for ,movement across a wall opening, means for holding the shutter normally in position, constructed to allow theshutter to be moved manually andarraiiged to be. operated to release the shutter upon the occurrence of a dangerous rise in temperature, and a normally active ratchet for connecting the shutter with said holding means to allow the shutter to be raised freely vand to hold' the same in partially raised position. l

11. ln automatic tire shutter mechanism comprising in combination a 'movable shut-v` ter constructed and arranged vforfmovement in position arranged vwhen in normal operation to allow the shut-ter tok be moved manually by overcoming the normal action of the brake and means for controlling the brake set inV operation to release the brakel upon the occurrence of'a dangerous rise in temperature. y i l, 13. An automatic re shutter mechanism comprising in combination armovable shutter constructed and arranged for'movement across a Wall opening, means for holding the shutter normally in position comprising a connector having a yielding element in its length and arranged to be attached at a fixed point y,to hold the shutter in position'and releasable at said point for manual testing. 14. An automatic fire shutter mechanism comprising in combination a wall, a movable;

Ashutter constructed and arranged formovement across anopening` in the wall, a brake for holding the shutter normally in Hopen position, means for controlling' the brake comprising a connector having a yieldingelement in its length and arrangedtobe attached at a .fixed-point to hold the brake in operation, and comprising 'means fusible upon the occurrence of a dangerous rise in temperature to cause the release of the brake ,and means forl holding said connector, under tension arranged to allow itsv manual release. Y

ranged to allow the shutter' to be moved manually by overcoming the actionl ofthe brake and 'means for holding the brakeiin operation arranged to beoperated to release the brake upon the occurrence of a I Y dangerous rise in temperature.

I6'. An automatic re shutter mechanismcomprising in combination a movable shutter constructed and arranged-for movement acro'ssawall opening, a friction brake forholdingthe shutter normally in position, arranged to allow the shutter to be operated' 'manually by 'overcoming'the vaction ofthe 130 brake, means for holding the brake in oper- Yation arranged to be operated to release the brake upon the occurrence of a dangerous rise in temperature and to be manually operated to release the brake for testing.

Y *17.7 An automatic fire shutter'mechanism lcomprisingin combination a movable shutter Vconstructed and arranged for movement across a wall opening, a friction brakeffor holding the'shutter normally in position arranged to allow the shutter to be moved manually by overcoming the action of the "brake and yielding means for maintaining` the brake engaged, arranged to be operated to release V.the brake upon the occurrence of a dangerous rise in temperature.

18. An r'automatic fire shutter mechanism comprising in combination a movable shutter constructed and arranged for movement across awall opening, a. friction brake for `holding the shutter normally in open position arranged when in operation to allow the shutter to be closed manually against the action of the bralre and means for holding the brake in operation arranged to be operated to release the brake upon the occurrence of a dangerousV rise in temperature;

19. An vautomatic re shutter mechanism comprising-in combination amovable shutter constructed and arranged for movement across a wall opening, a friction brake for holding the shutter normally in open position, means for holding the brake in operation arranged to be operated to release the brake upon the occurrence of a dangerous rise in temperature `and means for connecting the brake with the shutter arranged to allow the shutter to be lifted without actuatingV the brake.

' 20. An automatic fire shut-ter mechanism ,comprising in combination a movable shutrter constructed and arranged for movement Vacross a wall opening, a friction brake for holding the shutter normally in open position, means for holding the brake in operation arranged to be operated to releasethe brake `uponthe occurrence of a dangerous rise in'temperature, and arratchet mechanisml "for connecting the brake with the shutter arranged to allow the shutter to be lifted Withoutk actuating the brake. n

' 21. An automatic fire shutter mechanism Y Vcomprising in combination a movable shutter, constructed and karranged for movement Vacross a wall opening, and means for holdi ing' the shutter in position, arranged to be operated to release the shutterupon the occurrence of a dangerous rise in temperature,

` said holdingmeans being constructed to allow the shutter to be operated manually by overcoming the action of said holding means YYwithout. disturbing the operative condition of said means.

2 2. Anautomatic lire shutter mechanism, comprising in combination a movable shut- Leia/ree ter constructed Vand arrangedA for movement across a wall opening, Vmeans for holding the shutter normally in open position, comprising a connector having a flexible element 1n its length and arranged to be attached ata fixed point to hold the shutter in position and releasable at said point for manual testingA and fusible means connected with said connector for causing the release of the shutter upon the occurrence of a dangerous rise in temperature.

23. An automatic fire shutter mechanism s comprising in combination a movable shutter constructed and yarranged for movement across a wall opening, a counterbalancing spring for the shutter, and means independent of the counterbalancing spring forholding the shutter in any position, said holding means being arranged to allow the shutter to be raised or lowered manually while said means remains in operatingV condition.V

24. An automatic fire shutter mechanism comprising in combination a movable shut'- ter constructed and arrangedfor movement across a wall opening, a counterbalancing spring connected with the shutter to retard the entire descent ofthe shutter when the shutter is released, and holding means for holding the shutter in any positionv invwhich it has been located, said holding means bein arranged to allow the shutter to be raised or lowered manually while said meansk remains in operating condition.

25. An automatic lire shutter mechanismv comprising in combination a movableshutter 'constructed and arranged for movement across a wall opening, a friction brake for holding the shutter stationary in any position in which it is located, arranged to allow, through slippage of the parts of the brake, the shutter to be moved manually while the parts of the brake are `in normal operation, and means'for releasing the brake upon thev occurrencer of a dangerous rise Vin temperature. f i .n f

26. An automatic fire shutter mechanism comprising lin combination a movable shut- Y ter constructed and arranged for movement across a wall opening, a friction brake for holding the shutter stationary in position, arranged to allow the shutter to be moved manually, throughslippage of the parts of .l

the brake, while the parts of the brakev are in normal engagement, and means for causto close a wall openingcounterbalancing means for the shutter, a ybrake for holding the shutter in position independently of said Y counterbalancing means, and fusible Vmeans to release the shuttery upon the occurrence of a dangerous rise in temperature. y

a Wall opening, frictional means for holding the shutter in position, and counterbalancing means arranged to act on the4 shutter inde pendently of said frictional means. l 30. A fire shutter mechanism comprising in combination a movable shutter construct-- ed and arranged Jfor movement to open and Y close a Wall opening, counterbalancing means for the shutter operative when the shutter is released, and a brake for holding the shutter in position.

Signed at NewYork, New York, this 21st day of October, 1925.

' WALTER E. DUNCANSON. 

